Road grader



L. C. WOOD ROAD GRADER Dec. 1, 1931.

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ROAD GRADER Filed June 17. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. l, 1931. L. c. woon l ROAD GRADER Filed June 17. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 1, 1931. 1 c. woon ROAD GRDER Filed June 17. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 fkyz Patented Dec. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES LEONARD CHESTEEN WOOD, F ALDEN, IOWA Bonn GRADER ,Application filed June 17,

This invention relates to improvements in road graders of that type having a -supportingframe carried by front and rear wheels, and a scraper blade arranged beneath the 6 frame between the front and rear wheels, and adapted to be adjusted to various angles relative to the advance of the grader, and to have its ends adjusted independently to various elevations. Y

Heretofore considerable difficulty has been experienced in providing suitable mechanism for supporting the scraper blade in its various adjusted positions of movement, and in connection therewith means which may be easily operated manually for adjusting the blade in its various positions of movement, and at the same time providing mechanism which is rigid in construction and which will rigidly and positively support the scraper blade in its working positions.

It is therefore the object of my invention to provide in a grader improved means of simple, durable and inexpensive construction for rigidly supporting the scraper .blade in various adjusted positions of movement, and at the same time permit the blade toV be easily and quickly adjusted.

A further object is to provide a mechanism 'for supporting and controlling the rscraper blade, the weight of which is entirely carried by the grader frame and entirely eliminated from the scraper blade itself, whereby the scraper blade may be elevated with a minimum amount of power, and to provide in connection therewith improved means whereby the scraper blade will be caused to enter the ground with a minimum amount of manually applied power.

A further object is to provide in a grader of the type above described, improvedmeans for applying the power from the scraper frame to the blade, whereby auxiliary weight applied to the blade for the purpose of causing it to enter the ground is eliminated.

A further object is to so mount the mechanism for supporting and controlling the scraper blade above and uponL the grader frame, whereby a maximum amount of clearance may be provided between the under surface of the scraper frame and the upper edge 192e. serial 110.371,469.

of the scraper blade, and to provide a large amount of clearance between the scraper blade and the front wheels and the under suri'aceoi:` the scraper frame. rA further object is to provide improved 55 means for independently elevating and lowering the ends of the scraper blade.

' My invention consists in the construction, arrangement-and combination of the various` partsof the device, whereby the objects con` templated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated'in the accompanying drawings, in which: v

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved 60 grader.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a central sectional view taken through the scraper supporting head andv through a portion of the mechanism for elevating and lowering Vthe blade, the said scraper supporting head being illustrated in a position O from the position illus'trat-` ed in Figures land 2.' 75

Figure 4 is atop view of the scraper sup# porting head and the arms `for elevating and lowering the scraper blade.

Figure 5 is a segmental detail sectional s view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the manually operated devices for controlling the scraper blade. Y Y

Figure 7 is an enlarged, detail, sectional` view taken on the lineV 7 7 of Figure 6. f

My improved grader comprises arpair of frame members 10 having their forward ends supported by a truck 11, which in turn is supported by the wheels 12 and provided with a stub tongue 13, by means of which the device is drawn over the ground surface and steered.

The frame members 10 incline outwardly and rearwardly and have their rear ends supported by an axle 14 carried by wheels 15. Each of the side members 10 is provided with a downwardly extending flange 16 connected by a brace member 17. yThe lower edges of the langeslf terminate a considerabledisportedV outside ofthe frame member' 10. A

tance above the ground surface, as illustrated in Figure 1.

Supported on top of the members 10, slightly back of the center of the frame, is a plate 18. A similar plate 19 is supported adjacent to the under edges of the frame members 10 and beneath the plate 18.

Supported in the plates 18 and 19 is an upright shaft 2O firmly anchored in said plates, and having Yone end projecting above the frame members 10 a considerable distance. The shaft 2O is designed to rotatively support what l shall term the scraper blade supporting head 21. The lower end of the head 21 is provided with a disk 22, which may be detachably secured to said head by means of -bolts or rivets 23.. A washer 24 is provided to restron top of theplate-18 and on which the head 21 is rotatively mounted.

The disk 22 is provided with series of holes 25 near its periphery, designed to receive a locking pin 26 slidably mounted vertically in the pla-tes 18 and'19, and designed to have its upper en'd project yupwardly into one of the openings 25 to provide means for ylocking the vsaid head 21 in various angular positions vof movement about the'shaft 20. ,The pin 26 is provided with an opening through which a rock arm 27 has one end projected, said rock arm being mounted in a rock shaft 28, rotatively mounted in the members 10 and back of `the shaft .20. One end of the shaft 28 ris provided with 'a lever 29 supA- spring 30 is provided having one lend anchored tothe member 10'. and its other end to the lever 29, in such -a .manner that if the free end of the lever 29 .iselevated or lowered, the

spring will y 4eldably retain `the lever in either of said positions, causing the shaft Y28 Ato be rocked and inturn Vthe .arm 27, and the -slide :pin 26 4to be elevated or lowered.

Thehead 21 is-provided with oppositely `arranged :and laterally projecting ,arms 31 adapted -to lbe normally supported transverse- .l5/.above the frame members10. Each of the -ar'ms 31 ,is .provided with bearing members 32 and 33. One set of bearing members 32 and is designed te rotatively receive a Vscrew threaded shaft 34, while the other set of bearings 1s designed to rota-tivelv receive a screw 'threaded shaft 35, one of the shafts Ybeing screw threaded in the opposite direc- .tionfrom the other.

The inner end o-f the shaft 34 is j )rovidedV with a'bevel gear 36 in mesh with a'bevel gear '37 rotatively mounted on a contracted portion 38 of the shaft 20. The bevel gear 3-7 has annpwardly yextending hub 39. A bevel `gear l40'is also rotatively mounted on thep'orti'on 38 .and has a downwardly extend- Ving hub designed to rest adjacent to the hub 1 Pins =41 are provided for uniting the hubs o'flthetvvofgears 37 and40 to form a sleeve.

The bevel gear 40 is in mesh with a bevel gear 42 rotatively mounted on a. stub shaft 43, carried by ay suitable support 44, which also is carried by the upper end of the shaft 20.

rhe hub of the gear 42 is connected to ashaft 45 by a suitable coupling 46. The shaft 45 has a bevel gear 47 in mesh with bevel gear 48 mounted on a sleeve 49 rotatively mounted on an axle 50 carried by suitable bearings 51 supported by the main frame.

rhe onter end of the sleeve 49 is provided with a hand wheel 52. Rotation of the hand wheel 52 causes the slee/'e 49 to be rotated, and in turn the shaft 45 through the bevel gears 47 and 48, and in turn the bevel gears 37 and 49, whichin turn will cause the screw threaded shaft 34 to be rotated.

rlhe inner end of the shaft 35 'is provided with a bevel gear 53 designed to mesh with the lower one of ay double set of bevel gears 54 rotatively mounted on the sleeve formed by the hubs of theggears 37 and 49. rEhe upper one of the bevel gears 54 is in mesh with a bevel gear 55 mounted onthe inner end of the sleeve 56 rotatively mounted on the shaft 45. Y

VThe rear end of the sleeve 56 is provided with a bevel gear 57 designed to mesh with the bevel gear V58 mounted en sleeve 59 carried by the `slirft 50. The outer end of the sleeve 59 is provided with a'hand wheo1 60 by inea-ns of which the said sleeve 59 is rotated and in turn the bevel gears 57 and 58, and the sleeve 56, which i the bevel gears 55 and 54 and the screw threaded shaft 35 throu'h the bevel gear 53, so that the said shafts may 3e operated either simultaneously or independently.

Slidably mounted on each of the shafts 34 and 35 is a block 61 which is also screw threaded and provided with downwardly eX- tending members 62 having rollers 63 at their lower ends te engage the side faces ofthe arms 31 to prevent tersional movement of said blocks as the shafts 34-.and 35 are rotated. It will readily be seen that rotation of said saafts will cause the blocls to move longitudinally of said shafts.

Each ofthe blocks 6l is provided with outwardly projecting pins 64, each of which is provided with a link 65, said links having their outer ends pivot-ally'connected to brace arms 66'by a pivotrnember 67. The free ends of the brace arms 66 are pivotally connected to blocks 68 carried by the disk 22.

members 19. The lower ends of the links .turn will rotate 1 are connected to the scraper blade 70 by pivot members 71.

By this arrangement it will be seen that if the blocks 61 are moved outwardly, then the pivot member 67 kwill be lowered, which will cause the blade 70 to be lowered; or if the blocks 61 aremoved inwardly, said blade will be elevated; or if one of the block members is moved outwardly and the other one inwardly, then one end of the blade will be elevated and the other one lowered; or if-any one of the blocks 61 is operated, then one end of the blade 70 will be elevated or lowered. T he blade 70 is controlled by the hand wheels 52 and before described.

Said blade is adapted to be elevated and lowered when the head 21 is in any of its pivoted positions of movement onaccount of the bevel gear arrangement above described.

Mounted to the back face of the central portion of the blade 70 is a. universal joint 72 comprising a bracket 73 having a vertical pin 74 to which is pivotally connected a knuckle 75 having horizontal pin 76. A shaft 77 is pivotally connected to the pin 76 and rotatively mounted in a triangularly shaped frame 78.

rIhe side members of the frame 78 are provided with rearwardly extending beams 79 pivotally connected to the lianges 16 by pivot members 8O pivotally connected tothe flanges 16 by horizontal bolts 81, and pivotally connected to t-he members 79 by vertical bolts 82. The bolts 8l are mounted in the flanges 16 at points considerably above the member 72 when the lower edge of the scraper blade is in engagement with the ground surface.

Each end of the scraper blade 70 is provided with a universal joint 83, each of which is connected to a tubular brace member 84. The said brace member 84C is provided with a series of openings 85 and designed to telescopically receive a brace member 86. The brace members 86 are pivotally connected to the bolts 8l by universal joint members y87. A pin 88 is provided for eac-h of the tubular members 811, whereby the said members 84 and the coacting members 86 may be adjusted longitudinally, and when adjusted will firmly retain the scraper blade in its adjusted position against angular movement above the pivotal axis of the head.

On account of the universal joints 72, 83 and 87 it will be seen that the blade 70 may be elevated or lowered when the said blade is placed in any of its angular positions of movement, and that the said blade is always free to move from one position to the other.

It will further be seen that the beams 79 and the frame 78 form a rigid yoke through which a large portion of the power applied to the blade is transmitted. Said yoke holds the blade against lateral 4movement yrelative to the advance of the machine, and at the S same time permits free tilting movement of the ends of the blades, and also raising and lowering movement.

On account of the bolts 8l being located a considerable distance above the member 72, it will be seen that a considerable'amount of downward vthrust is applied to the blade, which applies a considerable amount of force necessary to advance the blade forwardly and to hold it to the ground surface, thereby eliminating the necessity of supporting other mechanism by the blade for this purpose, and at the same time providing means whereby the blade may be easily elevated by the manually controlled mechanism above described.

When it is desired to adjust the angular position of the bladey about its vertical axis, the operator grasps the lever 29 and withdraws the pin 26 from the disk 22, andl at the same time withdraws the pins 88 from the adjustable brace members, after which the head 2l may be swung about its vertical axis and carries with it the blade 70, it being assumed, ofcourse, that the blade is moved go an elevated positionabove the ground surace.

After the blade has been adjusted tothe desired angular position, the pin 26 is again reset and the pins 88 placed in correspondingV openings in the members 84 and 86. It will then be seen that the blade 70 is adjusted against angular movement by the braces 84 and 86, and the head adjusted against' angular movement by the pin 26. At the same time the blade 70 is supported to move freely upwardly or downwardly, or to have its ends adjusted in a vertical plane either simultaneously or independent-ly, by the hand wheels 52 and 60. Y

One advantage of my device lies in the fact that all of the mechanism for supporting and swinging the scraper blade is mounted and supported above the frame member, so that all of the space between the upper edge of the blade and the lower surface of the frame may be utilized for elevating and lowering the blade, thereby providing means whereby a large amountk of vertical adjustment may be obtained, and at the same time provides a large space between theblade and the front wheels and the under surface of the frame 10 through which trash and dirt in front of the scraper blade may be moved.

Another advantage of my construction lies in the fact that the mechanism carried by the supporting head is supported a considerable distance above theframe member and above the dust and dirt created by the blade, thereby eliminating, to a large extent, the trouble due to wear and clogging of these parts.

A further advantage of my construction lies in the fact that the vertical tilting of the blade may be easily accomplished by the hand wheels regardless of the angular position o1' j,

the blade.

5o frame 6,5 Aprovi I claim .as my invention l. A grader comprising a horizontal supporting frame, a shaft projecting upwardly A:from :the central portion of the Ytop of said 5 frameaa supporting head rotatively mounted on .said Vshaft having laterally projecting aarms, a scraper blad-e carried by said arms .andibeneath said head and supporting frame, and meanssupported at one end of said frame 151.0 for simultaneously or independently raising` and lowering the ends of said blade when the head yis in any of its pivoted positions of movement.

`2. A .grader comprising a horizontal sup- 3,5 porting frame, a shaft projecting upwardly from the central portion of the VtopofV said fra-me, asupporting head rotativelyy mounted .on said shaft havingy laterally projecting anms, a scraper blade carried by said arms .gg :and Ybeneath said head and supporting frame,

r.and hand actuated means carried by one end .of .saidframe for simultaneously or independently raising and lowering the ends of Said :blade when in .anyof its pivoted positions of movement.

'-3. A grader comprising a horizontal snpporting iframe yhaving an upwardly extendingshafrton its upper surface, a scraper blade beneath said frame, a head pivotally mounted ,am on ysaid shaft having laterally extending arms, `agscrew threaded shaft carried by each of said arms, link devices opera ted by the rotation of each of said screw threaded shafts for 'elevating and lowering said blade, a pair :5 of horizontal Ysleeves in common alinement .arranged transversely above said frame, a longitudinal horizontal shaft, a longitudinal sleeve, bevel gears for operatively connecting one -of thevfirst said sleeves with said longivo tudinal shaft, bevel gear devices for transmitting power from said horizontal shaft to one of saidrscrew threaded shafts, bevel gear :devices for Vtransmitting motion from the other one of said transverse sleeves to said 45 longitudinal sleeve, and bevel gear devices lock` pin slida-bly mounted in said horizontal plates designed to enter one of the openings of Saad dish, a rock shaft, a rock arm for operatively connecting said shaft with said Q0 vertical locking pin, an actuating lever for isaid Yrock shaft, and a spring for yieldably retaining said lever in either of its limited positions fof vswinging movement.

5. Inadevice of the class described, a sup- G5 .ortinof frame an u right shaft a head rop h 3 kD 7 ed with vertical openings, a verticalY` tativelyA moiuited .thereon having laterally extending arms, a shaft rotatively mounted on each of said arms, a' bevel gear for each of said shafts, a sleeve rotatively mounted on said vertical shaft having a bevel gear at each end, the lower one of which is in mesh with one of the first said bevel gears, a second sleeve rotatively mounted on thefi-rst said sleeve having a bevel gear at each end, the lower one or whichis in mesh with the other ono of first said bevel gears, va horizontal shaft, a bevel gear thereon in mesh with one of the upper ones of said bevel gears, a sleeve on said horizontal shaft, a bevel gear on said sleeve in mesh with lthe other one of said upper bevel gears, and means for independently rotating said horizontal shaft and said horizontal sleeve. i 6. A grader 'comprising a supporting frame, a shaft projecting upwardly from the central portion ofthe top of said frame, a supporting head rotatively mounted on said shaft having laterally projecting arms, a scraper blade carried by said arms and bcneath said head and supporting frame, means supported at one end of said frame for siniiiltcneously or independently raising and lowering the ends of said blade when the head is in of its pivotal positions, adjustable braces vconnecting the ends of said blade with said frame, and means for `locking said head and braces in corresponding positions. 7. A grader comprising a supporting frame having an upwardly extending shaft on its upper surface at a point intermediate its ends, a scraper blade beneath said frame, a head pivotally mounted on said shaft having laterali7 extending arms, a screw threaded shaft carried by each of said arms, link devices operated by the rotation of each of said screw threaded shafts for elevating and lowering said blade, and means on one end of said frame for independently or simultaneously operating said screw threaded shafts for elevating and lowering said blade when said head is in any of its operative positions. 8. A 'grader comprising a supporting frame, a shaft projecting upwardly from the central portion of the top of said frame, a supporting head rotatively mounted on said shaft having laterally projecting arms, a crapcr vblade carried by said arms and beneathsaid head and suppoitingY frame, a pair of hand wheels supported on one -end of said frame, and means for operatively connecting said hand wheels for the ends of said blade, whereby operation of either of said hand wheels will cause a corresponding end of said blade to be elevated and lowered when the Vhead is in any of its operative pivotal positions. i

9. A grader comprising a supporting frame, a blade beneath the said frame, ahead `si'ipported thereon adapted to swing about a Avnticalaxis and having laterally projecting the lower ends of the last said links being' connected to corresponding ends of said blade, and means for operating said screw threaded shafts.

10. A grader comprising a supporting frame, a blade beneath the said frame, a head supported thereon adapted to swing about a vertical axis and having laterally projecting arms near its upper end, a horizontal screw threaded shaft rotatively mounted on each of said arms, a block slidably mounted longitudinally of each of said shafts and operated thereby, an outwardly extending link pivotally connected to each of said blocks, a second link pivoted to the outer end of each of the first said links, the last said links having their inner ends pivoted to said head near its lower end, a vertical link having its upper end pivotally connected to the pivotal connections of the first and second said links, the lower ends of the last said links being connected to corresponding ends of said blade, and means carried by one end of said supporting frame for operating said screw threaded shafts.

11. A grader comprising a supporting frame, a supporting head rotatively mounted thereon, a scraper blade supported beneath said frame and beneath said head, means carried by said head for elevating and lowering the ends of said scraper independently, a pair of hand wheels supported on one end of said frame, and means for operatively connecting each of said hand wheels with one of said blade elevating means, whereby operation of either of said hand wheels will cause the corresponding end of said blade to be elevated and lowered when the head is in any of its operative pivotal positions.

12. A grader comprising a supporting frame, a supporting head rotatively mounted on the upper central portion of said frame to rotate about a vertical axis, a scraper blade carried beneath said frame and beneath said head, means carried by said head y for supporting said blade and for elevating and lowering the ends of said blade. inde- 13. A grader comprising a supporting frame, Va head rotatively mounted on the central portion of said frame to rotate about a vertical axis, said head having laterally projecting arms, a scraper blade carried by said arms and beneath said head and supporting frame, a pair of hand wheels supported on one end of said frame, and means for operatively connectin said hand wheels with the ends of said bla e, whereby operation of either of said hand wheels will cause the corresponding end of said blade to be l `elevated and lowered .when the head is in any of'its operative pivotal positions.

14. A grader comprising a supporting frame, a supporting head rotatively mounted on the central portionof said frame about a vertical axis and having laterally projecting arms, a scraper blade supported beneath said frame and beneath said head, means for operatively connecting the ends of said blade with corresponding ends of said arms,'and means supported at one end of said frame for simultaneously or independently raising and lowering the outer ends of said arms when the head is in any of its pivotal positions.

15. A grader comprising a supporting frame, a supporting head rotatively mounted on the central portion of said frame about a vertical axis andhaving laterally reject ing arms, a scraper blade supported beneath said :trame and beneath said head, means for operatively connecting the ends of said blade with corresponding ends of said arms,

Vmeans supported at one end of said frame for simultaneously or independently raising and lowering the outer ends of said arms when the head is in any of its ivotal positions of movement, and adjustable braces connecting the ends of said blade with said frame.

Des Moines, Iowa, May 29, 1929.

LEONARD OHESTEEN WOOD.

pendently, and hand actuated means carried by one end of said frame for operating said Y blade elevating and lowering means either simultaneously or independently when the said head is in any of its operative pivotal positions of movement. 

